Tag Archives: OCR A2 Psychology

Guðjónsson and Bownes (2002): The Attribution of Blame and Type of Crime Committed

Cognition, Forensic Psychology, OCR A2 Psychology, Turning to Crime, , ,

Guðjónsson and Bownes,  (2002) – ‘The attribution of blame and type of crime committed: data for Northern Ireland‘

 

Background

This study in the OCR A2 specification and Forensic Psychology Unit is categorised in ‘Turning to Crime,‘ ‘Cognition,‘ and then ‘Attribution of Blame and Social Cognition.‘

Social Cognition is ‘the study of how people process social information, especially its encoding, storage, retrieval, and application to social application.’

There are two background theories for this study:

  • Rotter (1975) – Locus of Control
  • Heider (1958) – Attribution Theory

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Lawrence Kohlbery

Kohlberg (1981) – The Philosophy of Moral Development

Cognition, Forensic Psychology, OCR A2 Psychology, Turning to Crime, , ,

Kohlberg (1981) – The Philosophy of Moral Development, New York: Harper and Row

 

Background

This study is the second we look at the cognition section from Turning to Crime. It is further categorised into ‘Moral development and crime.’

The background to this research is Freud’s theory of development, which Kohlberg extended.

Freud believed that when children are born they only have the ID present, which means they are egocentric and do not care about anyone else but themselves. Later, the ego and the superego develop which allow people to understand morality.

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Yochelson, S. and Samenow, S. (1976): A Study of Thinking Patterns in Criminals

Cognition, Forensic Psychology, OCR A2 Psychology, Turning to Crime, , ,

Yochelson, S. and Samenow, S. (1976) – ‘A Study of Thinking Patterns in Criminals

 

 

Background

This is the first study we will be looking at from ‘Cognition‘ and ‘Turning to Crime’. From your OCR A2 G543 Psychology exam. It is further categorised into ‘Criminal thinking patterns.’

There are two background studies to Yochelson and Samenow (1976):

  • Cornish & Clark (1987)
  • Hollin (2001)

Cornish & Clark (1987)

State that criminal behaviour is the result of a rational thinking process, criminals have reasoned and thought about their crimes prior to committing them, often making a cost-benefit analysis to determine if the crime is worth committing based upon the potential rewards and the risks involved.
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Wikström and Tafel, (2003): The Peterborough Youth Study

Forensic Psychology, OCR A2 Psychology, Turning to Crime, Upbringing, , ,

Wikström and Tafel, (2003): The Peterborough Youth Study

Background

This study focuses on upbringing in the development of criminality.

How does poverty and disadvantaged neighbourhoods affect such development?

Crime is often perceived as more common occurrence among the poor and working classes, however, in considering what is ‘poor’ simply measuring economic wealth is not enough: other measures such as social factors and education must be taken into account, in order to gain a more complete understanding of poverty.
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Sutherland (1947): Theory of Differential Association

Forensic Psychology, OCR A2 Psychology, Turning to Crime, Upbringing, , , ,

Sutherland, (1947): Theory of Differential Association

Background and Theory

The background to this study is Bandura (1961, 1977) and his Social Learning Theory.

Quick recap of Social Learning Theory:

  • Vicarious Learning (Learning from others being rewarded or punished)
  • People we learn from are called models
  • Learning does not always result from direct actions

Therefore, Sutherland assumes that criminal behaviour is learnt. Secondly, it explains deviant behaviour through individuals social interactions and relationships. According to this theory, the people who become criminals do so because they associate with other criminals.

This study is categorised into Upbringing, and then ‘learning from others.’

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